OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego County health officials plan to conduct aerial spraying of insecticides to kill disease-carrying mosquitoes after a 4-year-old girl died of a brain virus carried by the insects.
Health officials say the virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, has been found in several swamps, and a horse earlier died of the disease.
The county will ask the state to declare that an emergency situation exists that warrants spraying.
Dr. Dennis Norfleet, Oswego County director of public health, said spraying is just a partial and temporary measure. He said it slightly reduces the risk, but residents also need to take precautions such as using repellents, wearing long sleeves and long pants, and staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active at dusk.
